Crane with anti-sway mechanism



,081,884 March 19, 1963 J. E. MlNTY 3 CRANE WITH ANTI-SWAY MECHANISM Filed June 9, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet J.

INVENTOR. Y J0)? 77172 B 1 84 March 19, 1963 J. E. MINTY 3 08 CRANE WITH ANTI-SWAY MECHANISM Filed June 9, 1961 SSheets-Shoot a INVENTOR. JKn A? fi/z '2 i BY F March 19, 1963 3,081 ,884

J. E. MINTY CRANE WITH ANTI-SWAY MECHANISM Filed June 9, 1961 5 ShGBtB-Shflfl'l 4 March 19, 1963 ,884

J. E. MINTY CRANE WITH ANTI--S WAY MECHANISM Filed June 9; 1961 5 Sheets-Shoot 5 INVENTOR. Jblrz ff/V02? QNEYS United States Patent 3,931,384 CRANE WITH ANTI=WAY MECHANISM .Iohn E. Minty, North Musiregon, Mich, assignor to Manning, Maxwell 81 Moore Incorporated, Muslregon, Mien, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Flame 9, 1%}, Ser. No. 116,155 13 Elaims. (Cl. 212-14) This invention relates to improvements in a crane with anti-sway mechanism, and more particularly to a crane in which a load lifting member is suspended by ropes from .drum means carried on a supporting structure, the suspension assembly being so arranged that the lifting member and its load will not sway in any direction or twist while being elevated, lowered, or moved laterally, the invention being highly desirable for use in various and sundry forms of cranes and other hoisting mechanism, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

In the past, various types of anti-sway mechanisms and arrangements have been developed, but in most instances have proven objectionable for one or more of the following reasons. In many cases these formerly known antisway assemblies required the use of extra motors and extra braking means. In many cases they were objectionably costly to construct and operate, and were objectionably difficult to assemble. In further instances, such devices as heretofore known were not sufficiently accurate in eliminating sway, particularly under heavy loads and where a slight sway might be extremely dangerous. Some of these formerly known devices also permitted sway in one direction, while restraining sway to a material extent in the other direction, and were not equipped to eliminate sway to a material extent and yet permit rotary or lateral movement of the load.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a crane provided with anti-sway means or mechanism which are simple in construction, easily assembled, and do not require the use of an extra motor or extra braking means for adequate operation.

Also a feature of this invention is the provision of a crane or the like equipped with anti-sway apparatus which while effectively retaining a load against sway in any direction do not hinder the free manipulation of that load upwardly, downwardly, laterally, or in a rotary manner.

Also a feature of this invention is the provision of anti-sway mechanism in association with a crane or the like, and wherein the lifting element, member, or frame is completely rope suspended from a supporting structure, the arrangement being such that should the lifting element accidentally strike an object a major portion of the shock cannot be transferred to the supporting structrue.

It is also a feature of this invention to provide antisway mechanism for use in a crane or the like which includes a lifting member or frame having opposed pairs of sheaves thereon, with means interconnecting the sheaves of each pair to prevent rotation thereof in the same direction, the lifting member or frame being supported by a plurality of ropes, a separate rope being reeved around each sheave.

A further object of the instant invention is the provision of an anti-sway arrangement for use in association with cranes and the like embodying a iifting member or frame provided with a plurality of sheaves, with means interconnecting such sheaves in a manner to prevent adjacent sheaves or sheaves in alignment from rotating in the same direction, the lifting member or frame being suspended by way of a separate rope for each sheave.

Still another object of the instant invention is the provision of anti-sway mechanism for association with a crane or the like, which mechanism embodies a lifting element having a plurality of sheaves thereon, the lifting element being suspended by a separate rope for each sheave, each rope being secured at one end to a rope drum, and at the other end to a supporting structure at a point remote from the securement to the drum.

While some of the more salient features, characteris tics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a crane embodying features of the .instant invention acting upon a load;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the supporting structure or trolley of the crane of FIGURE 1, with parts removed for clarity;

FIGURE 3 is a plan sectional view, with parts in elevation, of the lifting member or frame, also having parts removed for the purpose of clarity;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line IV-IV of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, and again with parts removed for purposes of clarity;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a corner portion of the lifting member or frame;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of a rope drum to indicate the grooving in that drum;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective plan view of suspension assembly, with parts removed, showing the reeving of the ropes;

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic View illustrating one manner of connecting ropes to a rope drum, showing the lifting member or frame in elevated position;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar in chcaracter to FIG- URE 8 but showing .the lifting member or drum in lowered position;

FIGURE 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a different manner of connecting the ropes to a rope drum, showing the lifting member or frame in elevated position; and

FIGURE 11 is a view similar in character to FIGURE 10, but showing the lifting member or frame in lowered position.

As shown on the drawings:

While the instant invention may be incorporated with cranes of many and various sizes and types, including full and semi-gantry cranes, cantilever cranes, top running and underhung types of cranes with bridge trolleys and traversing hoist trolleys, among others, by way of example the illustrated embodiment of 'the instant invention is shown incorporated in a full gantry crane of the heavy load type. With reference to FIGURE 1, the illustrated gantry crane embodies end frames 1 and 2 connected at the top by a bridge 3 and rendered mobile by means of wheels 4 beneath the end frames, with a driving power plant therefor, generally indicated by numeral 5. The bridge 3 is provided with a track 6 on which a trolley, generally indicated at 7 may traverse in either direction, this trolley carrying hoisting equipment as will more fully later appear. Suspended by ropes from the trolley is a lifting frame, generally indicated by numeral 8, to which is connected a lifting beam 9 by a rotary arrangement. Associated with the lifting beam 9 is a plurality of foldable lifting hooks It each pair of which has a transverse bridge bar 11 thereon adjustably associated with the beam 9 by way of rollers 12.

In the illustrated instance of FIGURE 1, the gantry crane is shown astraddle a railroad track 13 on which a fiat car 14 stands, and the crane is in the process of unloading a trailer 15 from the flat car. In this process v the trailer is lifted from the flat car, moved to one side of the track 13, and deposited on the ground at an angle to the track so that a truck may back in, hitch to the angled trailer, and take it away in a very convenient manner, without any necessity of the truck assuming a position parallel to the track.

During the process of handling a heavy load such as a fully laden cargo trailer it is highly desirable, if not absolutely essential, that there be no swaying of the load in any direction even though that load be totally suspended from a plurality of ropes or rope parts. The instant invention will maintain such a load against any sway, while permitting ready elevation, lowering, lateral carrying, or rotation of the load. v

The illustrated embodiment of the instant invention embodies a superstructure or supporting mechanism in the form of the trolley '7, and as seen in FIGURE 2, this trolley comprises a generally square frame 15 fabricated of girders or beams in any suitable manner. Mounted for rotation on the trolley is a pair of rope drums 16 and 17 and at one end thereof each drum is provided with a driving set of gears as indicated at 18 and 19 respectively. Also carried by the trolley is a power source which may be in the form of an electric motor 20 from which a drive shaft 21 connects with a bevel gear shaft 22 and this in turn by means of sets of bevel gears 23 and 24 cause rotation of the drums 16 and 17 respectively in opposite directions, although the drums could rotate in the same direction, if so desired. As seen best in FIGURE 6, each of the drums 16 and 17 is provided with a set of grooving 25 adjacent each end thereof. Such grooving accommodates a plurality of ropes, and in the illustrated instance each set of grooving accommodates two ropes, making a total of eight ropes in all, although that precise number is not essential. These ropes, each of which has an end thereof secured to the respective drum, are diagrammatically shown in FIGURE 2 and designated 26 and 27 at one end of the drum 16, 2S and 29 at the other end of that drum, 30 and 31 at one end of the drum 17, and 32 and 33 at the other end of drum 17. An adjustable rope anchor is provided in any suitable location for the other end of each rope, and in the illustrated instance these rope anchors are spaced around the trolley 15 on the frame thereof adjacent the corners of the frame as seen in FIGURE 2, and as designated by numerals 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 4t and 41. The particular reeving of the respective ropes will be explained later herein.

With reference now to FIGURE 3, it will be seen that the lifting frame, generally indicated by numeral 8, is a multi-sided frame or member. In the illustrated instance, the lifting frame is shown as polygonal, embodying four sides disposed at right angles to each other, although this particular shape is not essential. The lifting frame may be fabricated in any suitable manner, and as shown is made up of inner and outer channel irons 42 and 43 secured together. At periodic points the lifting frames have cut away portions in which bearings such as indicated at 44 are mounted to support a plurality of sheaves disposed in the space between the channels 42 and 43. Each sheave is mounted in the same manner and there is one sheave for each rope, so in the illustrated instance there are eight sheaves arranged one pair to each side of the frame with the sheaves disposed immediately adjacent the corners of the frame, these sheaves being indicated by numerals 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, S, 51 and 52 reading clockwise around the lifting frame as seen in FIGURE 3. Each sheave has a shaft 53 on the inner end of which is a bevel gear 54. The sheaves are so located that the sheave on one side of the frame adjacent a corner has its bevel gear 54 in mesh with the bevel gear 54 of the sheave on the adjacent side near the same corner. The inside channel 43 is also provided along each side of the frame with a bearing 55 supporting a shaft 56 which has a bevel gear 57 at one end and a similar bevel gear 58 on the other end. As seen in the lower left-hand corner of FIG- 4 URE 3, the bevel gear 54 of the sheave 52 is in mesh with the bevel gear 54 of the sheave 45 and also in mesh with the gear 57 on a shaft 56. The shaft 56 extending along the frame side carrying the sheave 45 has its bevel gear 58 in mesh with the gear '54 of the sheave 45 and the gear 57 of the transversely disposed shaft 56. In this manner, there are four intermeshing bevel gears at each corner of the frame. Accordingly, it is impossible for the sheaves 51 and 52 to rotate in the same direction since the gearing interconnecting these sheaves prohibits such movement. Likewise, for the same reason, it is impossible for the sheave 51 and the sheave 5% to rotate in the same direction. This is true along each side and at each corner of the lifting frame, the gearing interconnecting the various sheaves preventing the pair of sheaves on each side of the frame from rotating in the same direction and preventing sheaves immediately adjacent each other from rotating in the same direction.

As seen in FIGURES 3 and 4 a channel 59 or any other suitable form of support may be secured to the underside of the lifting frame 8. Mounted on a hub 6t) extending through a suitable aperture in the bottom of the channel 59 is a spur gear 61, there being a wear plate 62 between the gear and the base of the channel. The extending end of the hub 61 is welded to the aforesaid lifting beam 9. In order to rotate the lifting beam 9 and the load carried thereby, a motor 63 may be mounted at any suitable manner in the channel, and geared as indicated at 64- to the gear 61. Preferably such an arrangement permits a slow rotation of the lifting beam 9, a rotation of one revolution per minute being satisfactory for this purpose.

In order to eliminate sway of the lifting frame 8 and the load carried thereby, reliance is had upon means interconnecting the sheaves on the lifting frame to prevent rotation of the sheaves on each side of the frame in the same direction, and also upon the manner in which the ropes are reeved over those sheaves. The reeving is best seen in FIGURE 7. From the showing in this figure it will be noted that the rope 29 at one end of the drum 16 is reeved over the sheave 52 of the lifting frame and anchored to the anchor 39 at the opposite end or side of the trolley frame 7. The corresponding rope 33 on the drum 17 is reeved over the sheave 51 and anchored to the anchor 34 on the opposite side of the trolley frame. The next adjacent rope 23 on the drum 16 is reeved over the sheave 45 on the adjacent side of the lifting frame and anchored to anchor 36, while the corresponding rope 34 on the drum 17 is reeved over the sheave 50 on the adjacent side of the lifting frame and secured to anchor 37 on the same side of the trolley frame as the anchor 36. Rope 2.6 from the other end of the drum 1 6 is reeved over the sheave 47 and secured to anchor 38 While the corresponding rope 30 on the drum 17 is reeved over sheave 48 and secured to anchor 35. Rope 27 from the drum 16 is reeved over the sheave 46 on the adjacent side of the lifting frame and secured to anchor 41 while the corresponding rope 31 from drum 17 passes over sheave 49 on the adjacent side of the lifting frame and is sosecure to anchor 40. It will be especially noted that each rope is secured to an anchor at a point remote from the securement of that rope to the respective drum. It will also be noted from the showing in both FIG- URES l and 7 that there is a crisscrossing of ropes between the drums and lifting frame on each side of the suspension assembly. In the illustrated showing, therefore, there are 16 rope parts supporting the lifting frame by reason of reeving over the eight sheaves on the lifting frame, and the two parts of each rope connected to one sheave are widely spread, adding to the stability of the lifting frame when in use.

It is therefore apparent that should there be any tendency of the lifting frame and its load to sway in one direction the sheaves 51 and 52 would have to rotate in the same direction as would the sheaves 47 and 48 on the opposite side of the lifting frame, but this is not possible by the interconnection of gearing above explained. Should the lifting frame and its load tend for any reason to sway in the opposite direction, it would be essential that the pair of sheaves 49 and 5t) rotate in the same direction and the pair of sheaves 45 and 46 rotate in the same direction and again that is impossible. Consequently the load is effectively held against sway in any direction notwithstanding elevation, lowering, lateral traversing, or rotary movements of the lifting frame and its load in order to spot that load in a particular location.

It will also be noted that the contact of any rope with any sheave is preferably less than 180, and in no instance exceeds 200" around the circumference of the particular sheave. This arrangement acts as a safeguard in that should the lift frame or its load accidentally strike some object, the ropes can slip somewhat in the sheaves thus relieving a major portion of the shock from transference to the trolley. This is especially desirable when heavy loads are being manipulated.

In order to best illustrate that various rope winding arrangements may be utilized on the respective drums, in FIGURES 8 and 9 I have diagrammatically illustrated an arrangement for the ropes on drum 16, it being understood that the ropes on the drum 17 would be arranged allochirally. In this instance the two ropes 26 and 27 are secured to the drum at points. 65 and 66 respectively, and the ropes 28 and 29 at the other end of the drum are secured at the drum at points 67 and 68 respectively. The sheaves and anchor points are given the same numerals as in the previously described figures. With the arrangement shown in FIGURES 8 and 9 it will be noted that the .two pairs of ropes are secured immediately adjacent each other and wind around the drum with both ropes moving toward or away from the same end of the drum. With this arrangement the two ropes remain adjacent to each other when the lifting frame 8 is in elevated position as shown in FIGURE 8 and also when the lifting frame 8 is in lowered position as shown in FIGURE 9. Such arrangement will be more satisfactory for the handling of lighter loads than for the heavier loads.

In FIGURES 1i) and 11 I have illustrated the form of reeving shown in the previously described figures, such as FIGURE 7, wherein the ropes 2'6 and 27 are secured to the drum 1 .6 at points 69 and 7t) spaced well apart at the opposite ends of the set of grooving 25, while .the ropes 23 and 29 are similarly secured to the drum at spaced points 71 and 72. The grooving is such that when the load is in elevated position the ropes 26 and 27 are closely adjacent at the center of the grooving, and the same is true with the ropes 28 and 29. However, when the lifting frame is in lowered position as shown in FIGURE ll, there is a spread between the ropes 26 and 27 and between the ropes 23 and 29 which widens toward the drum 16, and that spread of the ropes is highly desirable when handling heavy loads because the spreading of the ropes adjacent the drum also adds to the stability of the lifting frame under load, augmenting to some extent the elimination of sway in any direction.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided crane hoisting apparatus having anti-sway mechanism incorporated therein. The inclusion of the antisway means adds but very little to the cost of manufacture of the entire apparatus, is simple to install, positive in its action in preventing swaying in any direction, and is highly durable. At the same time, the anti-sway means do not hinder free and easy manipulation of even ahe heaviest loads and readily permits a selective use of various sizes of lifting frames or lifting members, and a selection of the number of ropes and sheaves to be incorporated in the structure depending for what purpose any particular crane is designed.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a gantry crane having end frames connected at the top by a bridge, a trolley movable along the bridge, a pair of spaced parallei rope drums on said trolley, means to drive said drums in opposite directions, a four-sided lifting frame, a pair of spaced sheaves on each side of said lifting frame, means directly interconnecting the sheaves of each pair to prevent rotation of the sheaves in the same direction, four ropes connected to each said drum and anchored to said trolley at a point remote from the drum connection, and each said rope being reeved over a different sheave from any other rope.

2.'In a crane, a superstructure, a pair of rotary rope drums carried by said superstructure, drive means on said superstructure to rotate said drums, a plurality of ropes connected to each said drum and also anchored to said superstructure at a point remote from the connection to the drum, a lifting structure, a plurality of pairs of sheaves on said lifting structure, and each said rope being reeved over a different one of said sheaves, each said drum having a set of grooving adjacent each end thereof for said ropes, two ropes being connected to the drum one at each end of a set of grooving whereby the ropes are spread apart adjacent the drum when the lifting structure is in lowered position.

3. in a crane, a superstructure, a pair of rotary rope drums carried by said superstructure, drive means on said superstructure to rotate said drums, a plurality of ropes connected to each said drum and also anchored to said superstructure at a point remote from the connection to the drum, a lifting structure, a plurality of pairs of sheaves on said lifting structure, and each said rope being reeved over a different one of said sheaves, each said drum having a set of grooving adjacent each end thereof for said ropes, two ropes being connected to the drum both at the same end of a set of grooving and both ropes winding side by side toward the other end of the set of grooving as the lifting structure is elevated.

4. In a crane, a superstructure, a pair of notary rope drums carried by said superstructure, means to rotate said drums, a lifting structure, opposed pairs of spaced sheaves on said lifting structure, means directly interconnecting the sheaves of each pair to prevent rotation of the sheaves in the same direction at any time, and ropes secured to each drum and anchored at a point remote from the connection to the drum and reeved over the sheaves of one of said pairs of sheaves.

5. In a crane, having a superstructure with rope drum means carried thereby, ropes secured to said means and anchored to spaced points of said superstructure, a lifting assembly having opposed sides, a pair of sheaves on each of said sides, means directly interconnecting the sheaves of each pair and preventing rotation of such sheaves in the same direction at any time, each said sheave having one of said ropes reeved thereover.

6. In a crane having a supporting structure and rope drum means and drive means therefor carried by the supporting structure, a plurality of ropes each having one end secured to the drum means and the other end anchored to a part of the supporting structure, a lifting structure having a pair of sheaves on opposed sides thereof, gear means connecting the sheaves in each pair to prevent rotation of said sheaves in the same direction, and each said rope being reeved over a different one of said sheaves.

7. In a crane, a supporting structure, a pair of rotary rope drums on said structure, means to drive said drums, a plurality of ropes each secured to one of said drums and also anchored to said structure at a point remote from the securement to the drum, a multi-sided lifting member, a pair of sheaves on each side of said lifting member, means directly interconnecting the sheaves of each pair to prevent rotation thereof in the same direction at any time, and said ropes being reeved over said sheaves With a different rope for each sheave to form a suspension assembly, the arrangement being such that there is a crisscrossing of rope parts on each side of the assembly.

8. In a crane having a supporting structure and nope drum means and drive rneans therefor carried by the supporting structure, a plurality of ropes each having one end secured to the drum means and the other end anchored to a part of the supporting structure, a lifting structure comprising a polygonal frame, a pair of sheaves on each side of said frame, a transverse shaft for each sheave, a bevel gear on each said shaft, an elongated shaft paralleling each side of said frame, and a bevel gear on each end of each elongated shaft in mesh with the adjaent bevel gear on a sheave shaft to prevent the sheaves of each pair rotating in the same direction, and each said rope being reeved over a different one of said sheaves.

9. In a crane having a supporting structure and rope drum means and drive means therefor carried by the supporting structure, a plurality of ropes each having one end secured to the drum means and the other end anchored to a part of the supporting structure, a lifting structure comprising a polygonal frame, a pair of sheaves on each side of said frame, a transverse shaft for each sheave, a gear on each sheave shaft, and other gear means carried by said frame and meshing with the gears for each pair of sheaves to prevent the sheaves of each pair rotating in the same direction, and each said rope being reeved over a different one of said sheaves.

10. In a crane having a supporting structure and rope drum means and drive means therefor carried by the supporting structure, a plurality of ropes each having one end secured to the drum means and the other end anchored to a part of the supporting structure, a lifting structure comprising a four-sided right-angled frame, a sheave on each side of said frame adjacent each corner thereof, a shaft carrying each sheave, a bevel gear on each said shaft, an elongated shaft paralleling each side of said frame, and a bevel gear on each end of each said elongated shaft, the bevel gears of each two .corner sheaves being in mesh and the adjacent bevel gears on the elongated shafts also meshing therewith whereby the sheaves on each side of said frame are prevented from rotating in the same direction.

ll. In a crane, trolley supporting means, a trolley movable on said means, a pair of rope drums on said trolley, means on said trolley to rotate said drums in opposite directions, four ropes for each drum each having one end secured to the drum and the other end anchored to a point on said trolley remote from the securernent to the drum, a four-sided lifting frame, a sheave on each side of said lifting frame adjacent each corner of the frame, means connecting the sheaves to prevent the sheaves on each side of the frame from rotating in the same direction, said ropes being reeved over said sheaves one rope to each sheave, and the ropes from each drum passing over the sheaves on the adjacent side of the frame and over the far sheave on the transverse sides of the frame.

12. In a crane, a supporting structure, rope drum means thereon, drive means for said drum means, a lifting member, a pluraiity of sheaves on said lifting member, means interconnecting said sheaves to prevent rotation in the same direction of both adjacent and aligned sheaves, a separate rope reeved over each said sheave and having one end secured to said drum means and one end anchored to said supporting structure.

13. In a crane, a supporting structure, rope drum means thereon, drive means for said drum means, a lifting member, a plurality of sheaves on said lifting member, means interconnecting certain of said sheaves to prevent rotation of such sheaves in the same direction, a separate rope reeved over each sheave and having one end secured to said drum means and the other end anchored to said supporting structure whereby said lifting member is suspended by-said ropes from said drum means and said supporting structure, and said ropes being reeved over said sheaves in such manner as to eliminate sway of said lifting member and its load.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,351,727 Wehr June 20, 1944 2,357,443 Medenwald Sept. 5, 1944 2,358,487 Anjeskey Sept. 19, 1944 2,707,053 Browning Apr. 26, 1955 

1. IN A GANTRY CRANE HAVING END FRAMES CONNECTED AT THE TOP BY A BRIDGE, A TROLLEY MOVABLE ALONG THE BRIDGE, A PAIR OF SPACED PARALLEL ROPE DRUMS ON SAID TROLLEY, MEANS TO DRIVE SAID DRUMS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, A FOUR-SIDED LIFTING FRAME, A PAIR OF SPACED SHEAVES ON EACH SIDE OF SAID LIFTING FRAME, MEANS DIRECTLY INTERCONNECTING THE SHEAVES OF EACH PAIR TO PREVENT ROTATION OF THE SHEAVES IN THE SAME DIRECTION, FOUR ROPES CONNECTED TO EACH SAID DRUM AND ANCHORED TO SAID TROLLEY AT A POINT REMOTE FROM THE DRUM CONNECTION, AND EACH SAID 